Manage pre-analytical variation as a system
Identify pre-analytical failure points and choose system controls that reduce specimen defects before testing begins.
The move: manage the path, not just the rejected tube. Pre-analytical work crosses boundaries: clinician order, patient interaction, collection supplies, transport, accessioning, and suitability decisions. Each boundary is a handoff where variation can enter. A QMS lens asks three questions. Where exactly in the path can this defect be introduced? What control makes the correct action easier or more visible? What data will show whether the control worked? Do not stop at "collector error" unless system evidence supports it. A pattern by ward, shift, tube type, courier route, or supply cart is management information.
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